Survey Says: Flexo Plants Are
Financially Stable, Positioned
For Long-Term Growth
SLC Poll Identifies Key Market Metrics
A FLEXO Exclusive
The flexo industry is constantly evolving and it is doing
so at an increasingly rapid pace. That makes keep-
ing a finger on its pulse a difficult affair but one that
can provide valuable insight into a number of key metrics.
FTA’s Supplier Leadership Council (SLC), in its FTA Printer/
Converter Process & Technology Survey 2013, has done just
that, mining troves of data from businesses in all areas of the
industry.
Survey findings include:
• Printers and converters in the flexographic industry seem
to be financially stable and are experiencing sales and
revenue growth when many industries are struggling
• Flexo plants have been actively integrating new technolo-
gies and manufacturing practices, and are continuing to
Big Data takeaways
• 150 printers/converters polled
• 70 percent saw sales growth in past 12 months
• Facilities with in-house platemaking capabilities post
faster turnaround times
• Employee safety viewed as customers’ most
important concern
• End seal leakage most common issue
• Greatest area of improvement in prepress workflow
said to be “Better communication between customer,
prepress provider and printer”
Pressroom floor, Spear USA, Mason, OH. Spear’s
proprietary combination presses (11 total in operation)
combine UV Flexo with rotary screen and hot-stamping.
Left and Center — On press at Paragon Label
Disclaimer: Pictured printers are FTA
members who may or may not have
been involved with the survey.
24
FLEXO
SePteMber
2013 www.flexography.org
FTA
TODAY
On press at Global Packaging
Ultra Flex
FLeXStArPackagingInc.,richmond,bC,Canada